CAF WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS
Uganda’s Lady Doves FC win bronze in CECAFA Women’s Champions League
Lady Doves FC have defeated Simba Queens FC (Tanzania) 2-1 to finish third in the CECAFA zonal qualifier of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League.
The Ugandan team will take home bronze medals and a US$10,000 cash prize.
Spencer Nakacwa gave Lady Doves the lead after 21 minutes in a play-off match played at the Kasarani Stadium this afternoon. She capitalized on Fazila Ikwaput’s cross to beat Simba Queens goalkeeper at close range.
The two teams continued to attack before Simba Queens’ Aisha Juma Mnunka’s shot was saved by Lady Doves’ goalkeeper Daisy Nakaziro after 40 minutes.
In the second half the Tanzanian team returned determined and pushed forward, but the Lady Doves defended in numbers. Later Simba Queens’ Joelle Bukuru and Mnunka had their shoots at goal saved by the in-form Lady Doves goalkeeper.
Ikwaput increased Lady Doves lead after 83 minutes when she beat the Simba Queens goalkeeper form a tight angle. It was Ikwaput’s 5th goal of the tournament.
But the Tanzania Women’s Premier League champions fought back and pulled a goal back through Asha Djuma Djafari.
The two teams had settled for a goalless draw in the group stages.
“I am glad that we have managed to finish in third place. This tournament has been good a good ground for exposure,” said Lady Doves’ top scorer at the tournament Ikwaput.
The final to be played later will see Commercial Bank of Ethiopia face Vihiga Queens FC of Kenya. The winners will pocket US$30,000 and the runner-up US$20,000.
Her Excellency, Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the Republic of Tanzania has supported the competition with a financial boost of US$100,000.